Virtual table games a boon for casinos, a risk for players

QUESTION: I am a senior citizen and play at the live dealer tables for about 40 minutes at a stretch. Then I need a break, and that's when I hit the virtual tables. What should I know about them? -- Janet M.

ANSWER: The electronic multiple-player virtual tables you speak of combine the latest interactive technology with the camaraderie of a live table game, but with a video dealer on a large screen. Casinos in my area offer a full array of these games, and they can be played for as little as a buck a hand.

The series of machines called Table Master uses a video representation of a life-size dealer placed at the center of a fully automated table game. The animated Table Master dealer makes eye contact and speaks to players, which lends a live atmosphere to games like blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Let It Ride and so on. Although the Table Masters can't respond to any of your oral commands, they verbally prompt you to bet or fold and make other necessary decisions.

The reason casinos love Table Master games is because they can offer them at a fraction of the cost of live tables. There are no dealers to pay, they are error-free and they can be placed where live games would be illegal.

The casinos also like the doubling of hands played per hour. The more times you are exposed to the built-in house advantage on any of the Table Master games, the faster these machines can relieve you of your hard-earned greenbacks.

Even though the payoffs are effectively the same as those of a live table game, it's crucial to remember that the increase in the amount of hands per hour can do some serious damage to your bankroll. The best thing to do is slow down your play, especially when playing alone.

You should also avoid playing on stand-alone video blackjack machines. Unless you can find a machine that pays you the true value (3 for 2) of a blackjack, you should eye most video blackjack machines warily. Most pay even money on natural 21s. Because you can expect a blackjack every 21 hands in live play, the loss of that bonus will cost you an additional 2.3%.